A small percentage of lycra is used sometimes to give stretch.Cotton can also be used, though this often results in a slightly less luxurious fabric. More recently, synthetic velvets have been developed, mostly polyester, nylon, viscose, acetate, and mixtures of different synthetics, or synthetics and natural fibers (e.g., viscose and silk). Velvet can also be made from fibers such as linen, mohair, and wool. A cloth made by the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of Congo from raffia is often referred to as "Kuba velvet".
Velvet is made, ideally, from silk. Velvet made entirely from silk is, however, an exclusive rarity with market prices of several hundred USD per yard. What is commonly marketed as "silk velvet" is generally a mix of rayon and silk. The rayon pile is inserted into the woven silk back. That creates a chemical reaction whereby acids burn the cellulose of the rayon, creating a glossy "burn-out" finish. Depending on the density of the pile, silk velvet generally consist of 14-18 % silk and 82-86 % rayon.Velvet pile is created by warp or vertical yarns and velveteen pile is created by weft or fill yarns.Velvet is difficult to clean due to its pile, but modern dry cleaning methods perform well.Velvet can be made from many different kinds of fibres. It is woven on a special loom that weaves two pieces of velvet at the same time. The two pieces are then cut apart and the two lengths of fabric are wound on separate take-up rolls. Velvet was expensive to make before industrial power looms became available. It is thus considered a luxury good, and associated with high status.